COMPARISON OF BASAL INSULIN ADDED TO ORAL
AGENTS VERSUS TWICE – DAILY PREMIXED INSULIN
AS INITIAL INSULIN THERAPY FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
ABSTRACT: Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of adding once – daily basal Glargine insulin versus switching to twice – daily premixed insulin in Type-II diabetic patients not well controlled by combined oral antidiabetic agents. Methods: In a 6 months parallel group clinical trail on 221 patients with Type-II diabetes and poorly controlled on oral antidiabetic agents (fasting blood glucose > 140 mg/ dl and glycosylated hemoglobin >8%) on oral antidiabetic treatment (metformin plus sulfonylurea) were randomized either to add Glargine insulin or to shift them to mixed insulin (30% regular insulin and 70% NPH) twice per day without oral antidiabetic treatment. Insulin dosage was titrated to target fasting blood glucose < 100 mg/dl and predinner blood glucose < 120 mg /dl. Results: Mean hemoglobin A C decrease from baseline was significantly pronounced (- 2.1 vs. -
1.3 % p = <0.005), and more patients reached HbA C <7% (57 vs. 31%) with Glargine insulin plus
oral antidiabetic treatment than with mixed insulin. The number of patients who achieved the target of fasting blood glucose < 100 mg/dl were more in the group which received Glargine insulin than the other group that received mixed insulin (41.7 vs. 17.8 %). Conclusions: Initiation of insulin therapy in patients with Type-II diabetes uncontrolled on com- bined metformin and sulfonylurea by adding Glargine insulin was more effective than starting with twice daily of mixed insulin (30% regular insulin and 70% NPH insulin). KEYWORDS: Type-II diabetes, insulin, Glargine insulin.
Pak J Med Sci January-March 2006 Vol. 22 No. 1 14-17
INTRODUCTION
that near normal blood glucose concentrations
Treatment of patients with Type-II diabetes
markedly reduce the microvascular complica-
mellitus includes education, exercise, diet con-
tion.1 The American Diabetes Association rec-
trol and medication. The medication available
ommends that the objective of normalizing gly-
for treatment of Type-II diabetes stimulate beta
cemia and glycosylated hemoglobin concentra-
cell to secret insulin or these drugs increase the
tions for patients with Type-II diabetes should
sensitivity of the insulin. The optimal level of
be similar to that for Type-I diabetes.2 Most of
glycemic control in patients with Type-II dia-
the patients with Type-II diabetes failed to
betes is becoming clear. The United Kingdom
achieve the glycemic goals by diet, exercise, and
Prospective Study of diabetes demonstrated
combined oral antidiabetic agents. They needeither addition or shifting them to exogenous
insulin, for better glycemic control. We used to
Medical Department,King Abdul Aziz University Hospital,
shift them to twice daily mixed insulin but af-
ter availability of Glargine insulin we started
to added it to the combined oral antidiabetic
agents. The objective of this study was to find
the efficacy of adding Glargine insulin to Type-
II diabetes insufficiently controlled by oral
agents in comparisons to twice daily mixed
14 Pak J Med Sci 2006 Vol. 22 No. 1 www.pjms.com.pk PATIENTS AND METHODS
monthly for a total of six months. In each visit,
Two hundred and twenty one patients diag-
fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood
glucose were obtained. The vital signs, neuro-
equately controlled by combined oral antidia-
logical examination, cardiovascular examina-
betic agents were included in the study. They
tion and the weight were documented every
were treated by maximum dose of metformin
month. The glycosylated hemoglobin and se-
and sulfonylureas for at least 3 months. They
rum lipids profiles were done in the beginning
were followed at the endocrinology clinic at
and then after every 3 months. SSPP 10 was
Jeddah city Saudia Arabia. DSFH is one of the
biggest private hospitals in Jeddah city. It is
A total of 221 patents were included in this
very busy hospital with more than 350 beds.
study and all completed the six month follow
The out patients endocrine clinic in DSFH is
up. There age was from 43 – 70 years (56.3). It
very busy clinic with more than 40 patients
included 97 female and 124 male. One hun-
daily. We applied the ADA standard care of
dred and eleven patients received Glargine in-
diabetes, and aimed to achieve their recom-
sulin in addition to the combined oral antidia-
mended goals in treatment of diabetes. Fast-
betic drugs, while 110 patients were shifted
ing blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose,
completely to mixed insulin. The highest dose
fasting serum lipids, and glycosylated hemo-
of Glargine insulin given was 60 units, with
globin was done in all our patients suffering
mean dose 40 units. In mixed insulin we in-
from diabetes and repeated in follow up. The
creased the dose up to 120 units (mean 60
patients included in our study were having
Glargine insulin were more than140 with mean
fasting blood glucose more than 140 mg/dl.
187 mg/dl but after treatment it was between
95 – 155mg/dl with mean 103 mg/dl. Eighty
agreed to be included in the study. The patients
three patients achieved the required fasting
weltering from chronic renal failure, severe
blood sugar. The glycosylated hemoglobin be-
cardiac disease and elderly patients (age >70
fore Glargine insulin was 8 – 16.4% with mean
years), were excluded from the study. They
11.4% and after treatment it decreased to 8.7%.
were divided into two groups. In one group
Patients treated with mixed insulin showed
Glargine insulin was added while patients in
improvement of blood glucose from the mean
the other group were put on mixed insulin
level of 183 to 133mg/dl, and the glycosylated
(30% regular insulin and 70% NPH). The start-
hemoglobin improved from 11.2% to 9.8%. The
ing dose of Glargine insulin was 14 units per
day titrated up weekly according to the fast-
2.7% in patients treated by Glargine insulin
ing blood glucose levels. Fasting blood glucose
and in patients treated by mixed insulin by 1.4%
was more than 200 mg/dl. The dose was in-
creased by 8 units. In case of less than 200 and
Mean weight of patient in both groups was
more than 140 mg/dl the dose was increased
67.3 kg and it increased after treatments. In
by 4 units per week. The doses of mixed insu-
Glargine insulin group the mean weight in-
lin were one unit per kg in the beginning di-
creased by 3.4 kg, whereas in the other group,
vided to two third in the morning and one third
it increased by 7.3 kg. (p-value = <0.005).
creased weekly by 4 units if the postprandial
DISCUSSION
level was more than 200 mg/dl and the evening
dose was increased by 4 units if the fasting
blood glucose was more than 140 mg/dl. They
normoglycemia is now the goal for many, if
were followed weekly in the first month then
not most of the patients with Type-II diabetes.
Pak J Med Sci 2006 Vol. 22 No. 1 www.pjms.com.pk 15
Initial treatment should begin with diet, weight
slightly less nocturnal hypoglycemia, albeit at
greater cost.13 The optimal timing of once –
normoglycemia if compliance is optimal. Pa-
daily NPH is at bed time, while morning ad-
tients with persistent hyperglycemia are typi-
ministration of insulin Glargine appears to be
cally started on one or more oral hypoglycemics.
Insulin has traditionally been used only if in-
adequate control persists despite use of these
without continuation of oral drugs. This ap-
proach is cheaper than combined therapy but
The therapeutic options for patients who fail
results in more weight gain and more episodes
initial therapy with combination of oral hy-
of hypoglycemia.1 Adding Glargine insulin
poglycemic drugs are either to add insulin or
to discontinue the drugs and switch to insulin.
agents was safer and more effective than be-
Part of the rationale for combining an oral hy-
ginning twice daily injections and discontinu-
poglycemic drug with insulin therapy is that
ation oral antihyperglycemic drugs.15 Our
insulin can suppress hepatic glucose output,
study showed similar result as regards efficacy
the primary cause of fasting hyperglycemia.3
of Glargine insulin with oral antiglycemic
drugs than twice daily mixed insulin.
several randomized placebo – controlled trails
of combination therapy reveal modest but con-
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